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Posted: May 22, 2021

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The Indian Health Service has updated its coronavirus data, showing results through May 20, 2021.

According to the data, 196,905 tests have returned positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. That represents an increase of less than 1 percent from the 196,826 cases previously reported by the IHS.

Altogether, 2,394,102 coronavirus tests have been administered within the IHS as of May 20. That represents an increase of about 0.1 percent from the day prior.

Since mid-October of 2020, the IHS has been providing additional information about the spread of the coronavirus within the system. The cumulative percent positive column shows the historical COVID-19 infection rate, meaning the number of tests that have returned positive since the onset of the pandemic.

Based on the cumulative percent positive, the highest rates have been seen in three areas. Two of them include the state of Arizona, indicating a disproportionate toll of COVID-19 in the state:

The 7-day rolling average positivity column offers a more contemporary look at the impact of the coronavirus. The data shows where COVID-19 cases have been increasing recently.

Based on the 7-day rolling average positivity, six areas (out of 12 IHS areas) are seeing higher COVID-19 rates. They follow:

Overall, 8.8 percent of IHS tests have been positive since the onset of the pandemic, the data shows. Meanwhile, the 7-day average stands at 3.3 percent.

The data, however, is incomplete. While 100 percent of facilities run directly by the IHS are reporting data, only 33 percent of tribally managed facilities and 44 percent of urban Indian organizations are doing the same, the agency has told Indianz.Com.

COVID-19 Cases by IHS Area

Data are reported from IHS, tribal, and urban Indian organization facilities, though reporting by tribal and urban programs is voluntary. Data reflect cases reported to the IHS through 11:59 pm on May 20, 2021.

 
IHS Area
 
 
Tested
 
 
Positive
 
 
Negative
 
Cumulative
percent
positive *
7-day rolling
average
positivity *
Alaska 611,428 12,101 521,569 2.3% 1.2%
Albuquerque 95,976 8,243 66,898 11.0% 5.5%
Bemidji 170,892 11,803 155,643 7.0% 6.1%
Billings 101,229 7,447 90,432 7.6% 4.0%
California 84,792 8,187 73,119 10.1% 5.0%
Great Plains 145,913 14,363 131,037 9.9% 5.7%
Nashville 80,154 6,302 72,996 7.9% 6.1%
Navajo 257,990 32,150 178,724 15.2% 4.5%
Oklahoma City 509,779 61,083 443,793 12.1% 2.2%
Phoenix 184,695 24,193 159,918 13.1% 6.4%
Portland 123,954 8,240 115,324 6.7% 4.8%
Tucson 27,300 2,793 24,353 10.3% 1.3%
TOTAL 2,394,102 196,905 2,033,806 8.8% 3.3%

* Cumulative percent positive and 7-day rolling average positivity are updated three days per week.

Source: Indian Health Service (https://www.ihs.gov/coronavirus)

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